Rep. Bob Wharff

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution requests Wyoming's Governor to prioritize promoting the state's existing stable power sources - coal, natural gas, uranium, and hydroelectric - over taxpayer-funded wind and solar projects. It directs the Governor to oppose subsidies for commercial wind/solar generation and instead advocate for Wyoming's "stable dispatchable base load energy" exports to other states and globally. The resolution does not create new laws but urges a shift in energy policy focus. It directly affects state energy promotion efforts and the Governor's role in shaping Wyoming's energy strategy.

Maddy summaryHB 219 grants permanent rights for existing county and municipal roads to use state and school lands without fees. It applies to roads established before January 1, 2025, that already cross state/school lands. The bill requires counties and cities to submit documentation by April 2030 to secure these rights, with the state land board handling recording and fees. New roads built after 2025 must follow separate procedures, not automatic rights. This directly affects local governments managing roads on public lands.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill prohibits foreign nationals from controlling or influencing groups collecting signatures for statewide ballot initiatives or referendums. It requires these groups to certify they receive no foreign funding, verify donors aren't foreign nationals, and maintain financial records for five years. Violations trigger civil penalties of up to twice the prohibited amount, with enforcement by the Secretary of State. The law directly affects organizations seeking to place statewide votes on the ballot.

Maddy summaryHB 79 requires local governments in Wyoming to meet two conditions for bond elections held on days other than general elections: (1) a majority of voters must support the bond, and (2) at least 50% plus one of the qualified voters who participated in the previous general election must cast ballots. This directly affects cities, school districts, and other political subdivisions seeking to issue bonds for projects like infrastructure or facilities. The bill does not change rules for bond elections held on general election days, and applies only to elections starting July 1, 2025. It aims to ensure broader voter participation for non-general election bond measures.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 286 establishes a fixed annual mountain lion hunting season running from September 1 to August 31 each year. It removes all previous restrictions, including hunt areas, mortality limits (statewide or per area), bag limits, and time restrictions - allowing mountain lions to be taken 24/7 with a valid license. Hunters holding valid antelope, deer, or elk licenses can now take mountain lions without needing a separate mountain lion permit, and the bill repeals prior "mountain lion pursuit seasons." The law also requires the Game and Fish Commission to issue possession tags for mountain lions taken and permits trapping/snaring under new rules. This bill directly affects hunters and wildlife management practices by significantly expanding hunting flexibility while removing regulatory limits.

Maddy summaryHB 310 allows owners of commercial trailers (defined as part of a commercial vehicle under Wyoming law) to permanently register their trailers for a one-time $350 fee instead of paying annual registration fees. This applies to trailers qualifying as commercial vehicles under existing statutes, directly affecting commercial trailer owners and operators. The bill creates a permanent registration option with fee exemptions for these trailers, while directing 50% of the $350 fee to county treasurers and 50% to the highway fund. It amends several statutes to establish this process and clarifies that permanent registration does not transfer to new owners upon sale.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wyoming public school districts to designate all multiple-occupancy restrooms and changing rooms as exclusively for males or females based on sex assigned at birth. It mandates reasonable accommodations like single-occupancy rooms for students who cannot use designated facilities, while allowing exceptions for maintenance staff, emergency medical help, and coaches under specific conditions (e.g., accompanied by same-sex adults). School districts failing to comply risk losing accreditation, and parents can sue for noncompliance. The law directly affects public school students, staff, and districts, with enforcement tied to state education standards. (Note: Bill is pending in Wyoming Legislature as of 2025.)

Maddy summaryHB 199, titled the "Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act" (not "Steamboat Legacy," which appears to be a misreference), creates a state-funded scholarship program for K-12 students in Wyoming. It increases the maximum annual scholarship from $6,000 to $7,000 for students at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, with annual inflation adjustments, and funds it through a new "Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Program Account" using state education revenues. The bill eliminates mandatory certification for private schools and providers but adds voluntary registration, while prohibiting funding from local taxes. It directly affects low-income Wyoming families seeking to use scholarships for public, private, or online education options.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (HB 123) modifies the state's adverse possession law by stopping the 10-year clock for someone claiming ownership through long-term occupation whenever the property owner pays all property taxes. It directly affects property owners who pay taxes and individuals attempting adverse possession claims. The key provision states that the adverse possession timeline pauses during any period the owner has paid all taxes on the property. The law applies to claims starting after July 1, 2025, and takes effect on that date.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill prohibits using eminent domain (government power to take private land) for pipelines transporting carbon dioxide used in carbon capture, utilization, or storage projects. It directly affects companies developing carbon capture infrastructure, preventing them from acquiring land through eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. The law applies only to projects starting construction on or after July 1, 2025, and amends existing eminent domain statutes to exclude carbon dioxide pipelines from standard utility rights. It does not impact other pipeline projects or existing carbon capture operations.